After High School

[nofearfactor]

The money part should only be considered a "perk".

This.

When I was young and just barely scratching out an existence, life was simpler, but accumulating money and 'stuff' was for sure my number one goal. Once I started making some really good money then things just got complicated and stressful, even though my bills were getting paid and I was attaining assets. I miss the carefree days of my late teens and twenties and I even miss being broke and hungry a little. Get enough education to get into your particular career but dont stop being young and try to grow up too quick. Enjoy it while youre there because it goes by pretty fast.

 

[Cedar Creek]

I came from a rugged family with no money, ambition, etc. and planned to join the Navy until I received what I thought was a good scholarship to go to college. I still had to work a lot to make it happen, but eventually wound up with three college degrees that allowed me to have a successful career and give my family all the things they need. The advice on networking and family is definitely important and I wish you the best of luck in your future choices.

Cedar Creek

 

[n423]

Worked and got a BBA from UCO . Now I would go to Vo Tech and get my A&P license like my son did. He has a great job at Tinker for 12 years now.

They didn't have that program for aviation back then. I went to MidDel and got a cert in Auto mechanics, but never used it.

 

[HMFIC]

1...2...3...4...UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS!

Ooh-rah!

Join up been. Just remember to follow the rules:

1.) Don't get married
2.) Live in the barracks
3.) Eat at the chow hall
4.) Save all your money
5.) Workout at the free gym every opportunity
6.) Make fun of squids
7.) Get a free degree
8.) Kill, kill, kill

 

[FamousAJ]

This thread has become EPIC. I can't wait until Been finishes basic, the stories alone should be enough to Lmao daily.


LIKE A BOSS. DO IT BEEN!

In to the wild blue yonder....that's how we roll.

 

[ldp4570]

Straight into the US Army. Finished 21yrs, completed 4yrs of college in 12yrs(took it all during my military time during night school). After the military I went into law enforcement with my home county Sheriffs department. After two years I was on the special warrant team and SWAT, plus did regular road and jail duties. After six yrs. I went into Federal LE, starting at the CDC in Atlanta at the main complex, and moved to the "Farm" where all animal testing was performed. Did that for four years, and was picked back up by the US Army (civilian side) for ammunition work/EOD at mcAlester Army Ammunition Plant. Was there for little over a year when picked up by USACE to work EOD/Safety over in Iraq destroying captured enemy ammunition stockpiles. Spent two long years doing that, and nearly cost me my life. I'm now retired/disabled, and living comfortably here in McAlester.

 

[flatwins]

Growing up my dad told my brother and I "When" you go to college not "If" you go to college. So when I graduated HS I knew I would be going to college. Originally was going to go to UCO but had several friends that were going to OSU so off I went. In Jr High and HS, drums were my life so I tried out for the drumline at OSU, put in a lot of hard work but had some of the funnest times of my life.
I wasn't much of a student and school was priority 3. Work was priority 1, everything else I wanted to do was priority 2 and school came last. I really screwed up badly along the way but held on and finished. With my transcript I am living proof that someone can beat the system: 18 hours of F, 9 hours of D. Changed my major after 4 years and took 6 years to graduate. Did the stupid stuff like paying off a truck with student loan money. Got a degree in Geographic Information Systems which at the time no one knew what the hell that meant. Nowadays GIS is a big field. Never used it though since I sorta fell into IT in 1995 and been there every since.
If I had to do it all over again... I would have not been a screw-off and would have focused on school more. I would have pushed myself a whole lot harder. I would have gotten an internship or gotten into the co-op programs. The people that do those come out of school with a great job. I probably would have gotten a chemical engineering degree.

By the way, I got married after my 4th year of school and still had 2 to go. It was a good thing too since being married helped me to focus on school more. Plus she could type a whole lot faster than me.

These days college is CRAZY expensive. I'm not sure what I'm going to tell my kids concerning college. They know what this bleedin' orange dude thinks about college but times are different. And truth be known, I won't have the money to send them.

 

[FamousAJ]

Straight into the US Army. Finished 21yrs, completed 4yrs of college in 12yrs(took it all during my military time during night school). After the military I went into law enforcement with my home county Sheriffs department. After two years I was on the special warrant team and SWAT, plus did regular road and jail duties. After six yrs. I went into Federal LE, starting at the CDC in Atlanta at the main complex, and moved to the "Farm" where all animal testing was performed. Did that for four years, and was picked back up by the US Army (civilian side) for ammunition work/EOD at mcAlester Army Ammunition Plant. Was there for little over a year when picked up by USACE to work EOD/Safety over in Iraq destroying captured enemy ammunition stockpiles. Spent two long years doing that, and nearly cost me my life. I'm now retired/disabled, and living comfortably here in McAlester.

you sir, are a true patriot. Thank you for your service.

 

[jmike314]

Went from high school to a 4-year university like I was supposed to.
Took me 2.5 years as a business admin & finance major to realize that I no longer had any interest in business admin & finance.
Walked away from school and scholarships because I didn't feel like putting in the work without knowing what I wanted to do.....family not happy.
Worked in landscaping, as an instructor at a gym, lab technician for a chemical company and finally realized what it was I wanted to do.
So, 7 years after leaving school I return and finish up my degree while working in a computer store to pay the bills.
I now teach and coach...couldn't be happier with my job (unless of course it paid more).

If I had to go back and do it over, I'd have reassessed my options and found out what I truly wanted to do.
I can do several other things with my degree and knowledge that will pay me more money...but there's a great deal to be said about being able to get up every morning and not dread going into work.

 

[turkeyrun]

Like flattwins, Dad pretty much dictated college, he went to OU for almost 2 years, but had to drop because of money problems. I had a full academic scholarship starting at local 2 yr college then to 4 yr

Thought I knew what I wanted, but like stated earlier, first 2 yrs is like HS all over again. Got bored with school, felt like I was wasting my time not getting classes I thought I needed but were required for the degree. Dropped out, got married, had a baby. Was selling carpet and paint, loved it, had taken some business classes, but NO MONEY.

Spent 25 yrs working in plastics, chemical, waste water at plants. Got laid off in the 'dumbsizing 90's'. Worked in E&I, loved it, but company got bought out / absorbed by bigger company and they 'no longer needed' us.

Opened my own business and then lost it due to loss of business caused by a little thing called 'ENRON'.

Tried the truck driving thing, hated it. Did the casino / blackjack dealer thing, wasn't my cup of tea.

Finally ended up back in a plant building tires, not the greatest but the pay and the time off lets me live comfortably. Bought a small ranch, some horses and cows, so I can do what I like and establish retirement income.

Along the way, I ended up married 37 years to a great wife, had 3 kids, 13 grandkids, 9 horses and 5 dogs.

Been, you may or may not think you know what you want to do. Either way, just DO IT, get the experience and keep moving forward. Who knows what lay ahead, enjoy the journey.

I have thought 'what if?' many times. The problem isn't what may be possibly better or different, it is what WOULD. ( the wife / kids / grandkids ) wouldn't change a thing.

We had a young lady working for us that was going to school to be a teacher. She had ALWAYS wanted to be a teacher. After her first 2 years, she was working as a teacher aid while finishing her last 2 years. SHE HATED IT. Didn't know what to do, felt like she had wasted 2 years and had a lot of debt. Her single Mom couldn't help her much financially and didn't give her much advice. I told her the 2 years wasn't wasted, changing majors wasn't a problem at this point. She was doing marketing and setting window displays for us and she was VERY GOOD at it.

The problem with the young having to make a lifelong career decision is THEY ARE YOUN and don't know. Do you best to stay out of debt and find what you enjoy or at least allows you to enjoy your life.